BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER of St. Kitts and Nevis the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas yesterday (Jun. 20) declared that the Christophe Harbour multi-million dollar Marina Project is a welcomed development for the Federation.
He was at the time speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the company’s Marina Project in the Southeast Peninsula, which is said that on completion could accommodate some 24 mega-yachts.
Dr. Douglas emphasised that from the fishing port of Basseterre to the western region of St. Kitts, his Labour Party Government is fully committed to the diversification of the Federation as an economic priority.
“In light of this event, the construction of Christophe Harbour’s Marina is a welcomed development indeed. It is evidence of what Christophe Harbour can do…,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Douglas told those in attendance that when the government approved the development project several years ago, they were aware of the new income stream that the project would generate locally.
“From workers to lawyers, from truckers to accountants, from marine works specialist to security personnel, etc., we understood the ability of this project to inject new revenue streams into our economy.”
In an exclusive interview SKNVibes Business, CEO and partner of Christophe Harbour Buddy Darby said that the Groundbreaking Ceremony marks the beginning of the construction of what would be a village as a well as pier slips.
“We will be one of the few marinas in the region that will have state-of-the-art concrete-fixed pier slips from 150 to 220 feet. That will be complemented by shore side facilities that will be restaurants, support facilities for these yachts, as well as retail.”
The CEO explained to this publication that because most of the mega yachts that would come to the shores of Christophe Harbour would usually there for a season, there is still time for the Federation’s community to visit the Marina.
Darby said the entire Marina would be completed by January 1, 2015.
“By the end of this year we would be able to start tying boats up, but the Marina Village will however still be under construction.”
When asked about the reason for a yacht marina in St. Kitts, Darby, who is also a yacht owner, said: “If you take a radius, St. Maarten, Antigua and Anguilla, you will see this is where the super yachts like to come and cruise. This is where most of them are located. So to have them at any given day, 24 yachts here, that’s like having a very high-end hotel. These people are international; some of them might want to buy real estate. We even had David Geffen here, who is one of the biggest record producers.”
Geffen’s boat, ‘The Rising Sun’, is a state-of-the-art vessel that had docked on February 3 this year at White Bay overlooking Christophe Harbour. Rising Sun is a motor yacht designed by Jon Bannenberg and was built in 2004 by Germany's Lürssen for Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, and was last refitted in 2007.
Darby further revealed that the entire Marina project could cost almost US$100M, but this figure does not include a hotel facility which could cost an additional US$100M. “When you do the other entire Marina building and the time, it’s about several million dollars investment,” he added.
The Christophe Harbour CEO further told this publication that the company has already sold slips to a number of yacht owners who, at the same time, are investing in the project.
“They have been some interest from people locally that want to do ship channeling, coffee shops, support facilities, customs clearing and all the things that will be provisioning for these yachts,” Darby said.
In addition to mega yachts, the Marina will also accommodate small craft, while the owners of these vessels, their captains and guests will have access to a private club, a full concierge and hospitality services.